How to Cut Side Swept Bangs

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Side swept bangs fall at a diagonal to one side and are flattering for any face shape. Unfortunately, side swept bangs need maintenance to look their best. You'll need to trim yours about every 2-4 weeks, depending on how fast or slow your hair grows. Learning to style your own bangs will save money on both the initial cut and save you time by avoiding frequent touchup trips to the salon.

Things You Should Know

Comb your dry bangs straight forward and tie the lengths of your hair back. Then, comb your bangs to the opposite side where you want them to fall.
Hold the shears perpendicular to your hair, pointing the tip down at an angle. Working across in 1-in (2.5 cm) sections, snip the ends of your bangs.
Comb out your bangs and evaluate the overall look. If you want the bangs shorter, repeat the same process until you get the look you want.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Hair

1
Make sure your hair is completely dry. Wet hair dries shorter and to a different shape. You won't get the accuracy you'll need for great bangs by cutting them wet.^{[1]
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Research source} Air drying is best to keep your hair healthy. However, if you're pressed for time a blow-dry is fine.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Yan Kandkhorov
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2020.} ^{[3]
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Research source}
- If you have naturally wavy or curly hair, you may opt to cut your bangs while wet to ensure an even cut. If you'd rather do a dry cut, blow them dry and straighten them before cutting.
2
Comb out your bangs. Use a comb to bring your bangs forward over your face. If you don't currently have bangs, create a triangular part. First, comb out all of your hair and part it down the center. Find where your head starts to slope forward. Visualize a triangle made up of this point and the top two points of your forehead, using the arch of your eyebrows to show how wide the triangle should be. Comb the hair in this section forward to make up your bangs.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Yan Kandkhorov
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2020.}

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3
Pull back the rest of your hair. Comb the rest of your hair backwards and keep it in place. Use a hair tie, clips, or bobby pins. This will prevent your hair from falling forward where you may mistakenly cut it.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cutting Your Hair With Shears

1
Choose the right scissors. Use special styling shears if you can, as they're sharper and designed for cutting hair, so they'll give you the best results. If you don't have any on hand, use a sharp, accurate pair of regular scissors.^{[6]
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Research source} Dull scissors will damage your hair by producing jagged ends. Test them on a piece of string to make sure sharpness is adequate.^{[7]
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Research source}
2
Hold your bangs to the opposite side where you want them to fall. If you want your bangs to fall to the left, you should hold and cut them on the right, and vice versa. Gauge your target length more accurately by holding the bangs in front of the face. Imagine your cut beginning at the tip of the nose and falling to eye level, reaching the cheekbone.
3
Cut your bangs in sections. Start by separating a roughly one-inch wide section of the hair closest to your nose and hold it flat. You will create a diagonal edge where this section will be where your hair is at its shortest. Once you finish one section, move on to the one next to it. Keep each section lined up with the others at the same angle. Use a mirror to check for accuracy and evenness.
- While cutting, position your shears perpendicular to your hair and then point the tip of the shears down at an angle.^{[8]
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  Research source}
- Working with smaller segments will take longer but produce better results.
- If you're trying a new look, cut your hair a little longer than you want it. You can always go back and trim it shorter if it ends up being too long, but it will take a few weeks to grow out if you trim it too short.
4
Re-comb and reevaluate your new bangs. Return your bangs to the position you want to keep it. Make sure your bangs are how you want them. Check how the angle and length look on your face. Look for any uneven sections.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Yan Kandkhorov
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2020.}
5
Touch up any errors. If you've missed any sections, trim those to match neighboring hairs. If any sections are uneven, redo those to create a neat diagonal line. Cut vertically instead of at an angle for this step for better accuracy.^{[10]
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Research source}
6
Style your bangs. Once you're happy with your bangs evenness, style them for one last quality check. Use a round brush and a hair dryer to sweep your bangs to the side you want them to be.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.} A small amount of mousse will add extra volume to your new look.
- If you have thicker hair, you can follow-up with a flat iron or curling iron to style your bangs.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cutting Your Hair With a Razor

1
Choose an appropriate razor. This can be a straight razor, a hair shaper, or even a disposable shaver. Just ensure that your razor is very sharp and has a single blade. Using dull tools or ones with multiple blades can cause split ends.^{[12]
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Research source}
- Professional hair shaping razors come with ergonomic handles especially designed for cutting hair.
- Using a razor for extremely coarse or curly hair might not be your best bet, as this sometimes also causes split ends.
2
Take hair one segment at a time. Start with the section closest to your nose. Just as you would with scissors, hold one section of hair at a time while cutting for the best look. Remember to keep your sections to about an inch long or shorter to prevent over cutting.
3
Pull each bang section taut. Use your middle and index finger to pull your hair up to form a 90 degree angle with your face. Slide your fingers down towards the tips of your hair. Hold them just above where you plan to cut.^{[13]
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4
Run the razor across your hair. Use your razor to gently cut into the hair section by section to form a diagonal. Use a gentle gliding motion away from your face. Keep each section lined up at the same angle. Continue until you reach the longest part.
5
Check your bangs when finished. Comb out your bangs and position them towards the side where you want them to fall. Check for sections you've missed or uneven breaks in the diagonal. Correct your mistake by pulling the section forward again and trimming it back with another stroke of your razor.

Community Q&A

Question

Would a full fringe work for a round, heart-shaped face with a small forehead? What other styles might look good?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

It doesn't hurt to try! A side swept fringe just may work for you. You could also try a low bun with a long, side swept fringe, or voluminous waves.
Question

When I go to the salon I request that they cut my hair in a rounded side fringe. However, they always make my hair follow my eyebrow and that isn't what I want. How can I better explain to them the style I'm trying to achieve?

Community Answer

Try telling them you want face framing bangs instead of straight. And also explain exactly as you have done here, saying what you do not want as much as what you do want.
Question

How do I cut my side swept bangs when I have short hair?

Community Answer

You could gel your hair back and then leave one piece out. Cut that piece a little shorter and gel it to the side, then take the rest of your hair and comb it out.

Warnings

Be careful. If you cut too quickly or too hard, you may end up damaging your hair missing chunks of your bangs.

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Helpful 26 Not Helpful 5
Only use the razor method if you are an experienced stylist with a steady hand. It's easy to slip and cut yourself. Cuts to the head and face can be very dangerous and leave scars.

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